The SAGE Market Garden Internship is one of the most important programs we have developed since we began.

Every year since 2013, we have trained a new vegetable grower and supported them as they ventured out to set up their own enterprises in our community.

Applications for the 2018-2019 internship are now open.

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2018-19 SAGE Market Gardener Internship

The annual position of the SAGE Market Gardener Intern is now open for applications.

This position is now in its sixth year and has proven to be a fantastic opportunity for the right person who is interested in becoming a market gardener. The internship is a nine-month position, commencing in late August 2018 and running through to May 2019, teaching the successful applicant many aspects of market gardening, without any upfront costs, and with direct guidance by a local market gardener/s. Although this is a training position intended to build skills development to build a growing enterprise, SAGE will offer a small base weekly retainer, with the rest of the income being derived from a percentage of the sale of vegetables.

Applications close 14th July, 2018.

What is it?

During the program you will learn many things, from the importance of fertile, and biologically active soil, through to direct sales of produce and becoming familiar with the local food network. A strong focus will be on gardening and production skills while learning how to operate food production as a business in order to prepare you for a career in market gardening.

You will also receive coaching by an experienced business executive to assist in approaching market gardening as a viable enterprise. You will learn how to set up a business, manage your income and expenses and set short and long term goals.

There is a new wave of agriculture, it’s small scale, viable and very rewarding and this is a great way to get started with your own food production business.

Who is SAGE?

Sustainable Agriculture and Gardening Eurobodalla (SAGE) is a not-for-profit, community-based organisation whose mission is to create and support a NSW South Coast sustainable fair food economy and food sovereignty for local communities.

Established in 2009, SAGE began as an education and demonstration project with a strong focus to create the opportunity for the people in the region to redress the loss of healthy food growing and cooking skills by providing education in all disciplines of sustainable agriculture, gardening and food preparation.

In 2013 the first market gardener internship was opened, and every year since, SAGE has successfully trained a new vegetable grower who, upon completion, has found their own little place in our ever developing local food system. This is an ideal outcome.

Who should apply?

Market gardening is a demanding, outdoors work environment. It is important you have good general health, and enthusiastic to partake in physical activities, as you will be working in an un-mechanised system that uses plenty of hand tool work. Small-scale agriculture can also present all sorts of hurdles and challenges that you will need to navigate through, so it is highly beneficial for you to have a logical and somewhat practical mindset, with good decision making skills. You should also be able to have a medium level of autonomy.

Where?

Situated on the far south coast NSW, Moruya. Roughly 4.5 hours south of Sydney and 2.5 hours east of Canberra, Moruya has fertile agricultural land and a vibrant and progressing local food system. It also has all the goodies that comes with a coastal lifestyle, as well as various water systems and large national parks.

How to apply

If you desire a career in market gardening and have visions of clean food production, and this sounds like you, please email us via the contact form provided on this page for more information.

The first SAGE Farmers Market was held on New Year’s Day 2013 at Riverside Park, Moruya. Since that first sunny Tuesday afternoon, the market has established a reputation as an authentic and respected farmers market. In July 2014, it was awarded “Outstanding Farmers’ Market” at delicious. Magazine‘s Annual Produce Awards – an extraordinary achievement in just 18 months. Even more extraordinary was another win for the same award in 2015.

When you buy something at the SAGE Farmers Market, you can be confident that the person you’re buying it from either grew it, harvested it or made it. That’s what makes a farmers market different. There are no middle-men, no wholesalers and everything was grown and made within our local area.

This market is also different because it’s held every Tuesday afternoon. When people can buy local produce every week as part of a normal shopping routine, it has a huge impact on the community. It means farmers can afford to stay on the land and continue to produce quality food in a sustainable way. It means the local economy stays strong and it means we continue to have access to the freshest, healthiest food possible.

The market is another mainstay of SAGE’s activities and with the support of the Eurobodalla Shire Council, is now returning funds back to SAGE to continue our work to “grow the growers”.

Click or tap to visit the SAGE Farmers Market website

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proud supporters of the SAGE Farmers Market

The “100 Acre Farm” is more of a vision than a SAGE enterprise. In the future, many smaller farming lots will be producing a significant proportion of food for Moruya and the Eurobodalla. These will be either leased or purchased by new farmers, growing a diverse mix of produce.

SAGE will help these new growers access good agricultural land and help broker land lease agreements or purchases.

We also aspire to provide seed funding as low interest loans to help these farming start-ups.

The river flats surrounding Moruya are a prime opportunity for an innovative new agricultural cooperative to be developed.

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Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the traditions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, the Djuwin Nation, in particular the local Brinja Djuwin and Walbanga people, on whose land SAGE operates.

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